ASPEN ACRES FIRE, FLASH FLOOD RISK
I’ve mentioned this a few times already over the last week…and the National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued the first of what will be many Flash Flood Watches for the Aspen Acres Burn scar. The first one is issued for Wednesday from noon-8pm.
Immediately after a meeting with local and state officials and agencies, which Peaks2Plains Weather was part of, Klint Skelly, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Pueblo joined me to talk about what we know, what we don’t, the steps ahead, and the need to heed warnings when they are issued and remain diligent for months, and, years ahead.
A reminder that a WATCH means conditions are favorable over a multiple hour period of time for, in this case, flash flood conditions, to develop. A WARNING means that Flash Flooding is occurring or is imminent and you should take action immediately if you are in the flash flood warning.
There’s a lot more in the months ahead that will be learned about the most at risk drainages and tributaries, but for now, the local NWS office will issue Flash Flood Warnings when the rain rate or rainfall is .25″. I know that’s not a lot, but given the current unknowns, the terrain, and how hot this fire has burned, it isn’t going to take too much to cause debris or ash flows, and widespread flash flood concerns.
